2

3

Foreword The UCLG Working Group on Intermediary Cities was created fol-

lowing a series of meetings held between 2013 and 2014 – the

learning event in Kwadukuza, South Africa, the Lleida International

Forum on Intermediary Cities (June 2013, Spain), the 4th UCLG Con-

gress (October 2013, Rabat), the 2014 World Urban Forum and the

3rd International Forum of the Medinas (April 2014, Tangiers) – and

in continuity with the Urban Strategic Planning Committee’s re-

sponse to the growing need to create spaces for discussion and

learning. It has positioned intermediary cities on the global agenda.

The city of Chefchaouen assumed the leadership of the Working Group upon its launch in

April, seeking to encourage more intermediary cities in all regions to share policies, challeng-

es and strategies.

For our City Council, assuming the leadership of the network is a unique opportunity to re-

flect on issues shared with other cities with similar characteristics, in order to improve our

strategies, as well as to find solutions that are adapted to our needs, potential and obstacles.

Our city is the capital of the province Chefchaouen. We have a population of approximately

50,000 inhabitants. With a high percentage of our population being of rural origin and a low

socio-economic status, our city faces the great challenge of generating employment oppor-

tunities for all productive population groups, in particular young people and women.

The improvement of the well-being of our fellow citizens lies in the consolidation of a policy

on sustainable local economic development, which would promote employment opportuni-

ties, and also gradually help to regularize the informal economy strongly rooted in our re-

gion. It is also important to foster the creation of small- and medium-sized businesses that

provide added value to the responsible use of resources.

We are aware that the potential of our city is directly linked to the value of our cultural and

natural heritage, concentrated in the medina (old centre) and the traditional rural land-

scapes. In 2010, as recognition of this value, UNESCO acknowledged Chefchaouen as an em-

blematic community in terms of the Mediterranean diet. At the same time, the Reserve for

the Intercontinental Biosphere of the Mediterranean was created, including the national

natural parks of Talassemtant and Bouchachem.

In this context, our town had the great honour to act as the host of a UCLG learning event.

The support of UCLG, UCLG Africa, ILO and FAMSI made possible a rich and fruitful exchange

between mayors and municipal leaders from eleven countries in the Mediterranean and

West Africa, as well as representatives of regional and national administrations.

We hope that the outcomes and ideas gathered in this publication will motivate our network

of intermediary cities to move forward together in the definition of strategies and policies

that allow local governments to occupy the position they deserve in the development of

their territories, as well as mobilize more cities in all regions.

Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, Morocco

4

PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS

FMDV, ILO,UCLG, UCLG Africa, CIMES, CEPES,

FAMSI, University of Abdelmalek

PARTICIPATING REGIONS and CITIES

Tanger-Tetouan Regional Council, Morocco

Mopti Regional Council, Mali

Diputación de Jaén, Spain

Chefchaouen, Morocco

Tetouan, Morocco

Sousse, Tunisia

Tripoli, Lebanon

Djerba, Tunisia

Kindi, Burkina Faso

Odienné, Côte d'Ivoire

Sikasso, Mali

Timbuktu, Mali

Saint Louis, Senegal

Kaolack, Senegal

Guidan-Roumdji, Niger

Djougou, Benin

Ndali, Benin

Boghé, Mauritanie

Aneho, Togo

Las Cabezas de San Juan, Spain

5

Overview of contents

This publication captures the main highlights, conclusions and learning outcomes of the event

“Urban-Rural Policies for Local Economic Development: South-South and triangular coopera-

tion”, held in the city of Chefchaouen, Morocco, from 24 to 27 September 2014.

The event was jointly organized by the city of Chefchaouen, UCLG Africa, the two UCLG Work-

ing Groups on Intermediary Cities and Local Economic Development and FAMSI (the Anda-

lusian Fund of Municipalities for International Solidary); and counted on the technical and

financial support of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

The three-day event attracted 40 participants from the northern and southern shores of the

Mediterranean as well from West Africa, and included local elected officials, practitioners,

councillors, civil society representatives, NGOs, local entrepreneurs and representatives of

local development agencies and chambers of commerce.

The exchange of practices between cities from Morocco, Tunisia, Lebanon, Spain, Niger, Be-

nin, Mali, Senegal, the Ivory Coast, Mauritania and Burkina Faso was an important milestone

for the two UCLG Working Groups, as well as for the UCLG South-South exchange initiative. It

succeeded in widening recognition on the issues of local economic development, decent work

and the importance of intermediary cities in the global agenda; notably within the framework

of the Post-2015 agenda, and towards the 3rd Forum on Local Economic Development and

Habitat III in 2016.

The following topics were explored and are summarized in this publication:

1. Introduction

2. Context

3. The challenges of urbanization in urban-rural policies

4. The case of Chefchaouen

5. Rural-urban territories and sustainable economic

development

6. Initiatives and solutions for decent work

7. South-South and triangular cooperation and

recommendations

8. Conclusions, next steps and final declaration

“Local economic development is a way of territorializing de-velopment. Moving from typography to topography is essential.” Jean-Pierre Elong Mbassi, UCLG Africa

6

01 INTRODUCTION

The UCLG Working Groups on Intermediary Cities and Local Economic Development aim to

contribute to the development of initiatives for collaboration and cooperation between local

governments and associations in order to enrich the debate within UCLG and to participate in

the elaboration and implementation of policies. The development approach adopted by both

Working Groups implies a territorial focus, based on endogenous resources and obeying envi-

ronmental sustainability criteria. This view of local development must be championed through

public participation and must involve an integrated vision of the territory.

For UCLG, the Working Group on Local Economic Development and a strong network of inter-

mediary cities, are fundamental elements to:

Address the key issues of today; especially by exploring new views gained through

networking.

Share experiences, tools and strategies for application in local development.

Debate the fundamental components of local development strategies.

Reflect on the need to articulate responses adapted to the global context, based on

local realities.

Recognize and share opportunities, innovative experiences and challenges by learning

together from the successes and mistakes of the past to agree on frameworks for

common action.

Photo: Habib Noui ©

7

South-South and triangular cooperation serves to understand and develop policies towards

urban planning, and creates sounding boards for initiatives. As highlighted during the last

learning event organized in Maputo, Mozambique, the exchanges between cities may also

focus on the relationship between the municipality and the informal economy sector. This

approach characterises the partnership between the ILO and UCLG.

Under the leadership of Mr Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen, the meeting underlined the im-

portance of urban policies oriented towards economic and social development that seek to

address the needs and potential of rural areas. Local elected officials recognized that the stra-

tegic urban and territorial planning of intermediary cities requires taking into account relation-

ships between rural and urban spaces, as well as bringing together all development actors, in

particular businesses, social partners, citizens and civil society. The conclusions of the meeting

were brought together in the key outcome document, the Chefchaouen Declaration.

“Combining a strategy for intermedi-

ary cities and local economic devel-

opment is the only way to safeguard

the economy of proximity and its jobs

through the local economy.”

Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of

Chefchaouen, Chair of the UCLG

Working Group on Intermediary Cities

8

Chefchaouen’s urban-rural development approach enabled participants to understand how the

management of public (food) market systems according to the food cycle, which entails pro-

duction, distribution and consumption, works in practice. Participants also noted that the mu-

nicipality of Chefchaouen’s Local Development Agency represented one of the biggest assets

for the dynamization of the city’s economic and social fabric. It is the first public agency of its

type to be developed in Morocco, and was supported by FAMSI.

Future activities were envisaged and discussed, and the event also collected constructive feed-

back on the UCLG concept papers on Intermediary Cities and Economic and Social Develop-

ment. Those inputs will be taken up in the Post-2015 global agenda and Habitat III processes.

9

02 Context

To compare the challenges of cities and towns in North Africa, the Mediterranean and West

Africa, it is important to consider their historical, political and economic backgrounds.

Early influences

From a historical point of view, the cities involved in the exchange have a strong common

historical and cultural background; being submitted to the same kind of architectural, eco-

nomic and political influences since the Phoenician times.

During the middle-age period, Morocco and Al-Andalus were, at times, part of the same king-

dom, which ranged from Toledo to Timbuktu. This opened up a large perspective on business

in terms of geography, cultural and religious exchanges, and human mobility; and was actually

the first ever globalization phase observed in the world, focused around the Mediterranean

Sea. With the domination of the Arab language, their rules, norms, ways of living in the city,

and fiscal policies, were applied in this region.

This created a strong historical link, background and identity among the North African cities,

and those in the deep south of Europe, Spain in particular. Today, this proximity is still felt

around the Mediterranean Sea and is manifest in cultural expressions.

This “city culture” was also transmitted through the nomads of Mauritania and Mali to West

African cities, which were more traditional and less dense, based on a tribal structure, king-

doms and the exchanges between them. Timbuktu was the social, economic and political

centre.

Colonization

Later, between the end of the 19th and 20th century, colonialism influenced cities through its

key objective: exploring resources and installing an economy based on the political manage-

ment of these resources. Especially in the French-influenced area, expanding from North to

West Africa, this was achieved through installing a specific type of management in the territo-

ries and “resource-rich areas” that would allow them to “bring resources back to the home-

land”. This gave meaning to the city in terms of a point of transit. The territorial management

was also focused on generating market places. This colonial influence was thus characterized

by:

The construction of important infrastructure like ports, railways and airports, which

created cities that continued to grow with time, or juxtaposed French urbanism next

to the medinas, e.g. in North African cities.

A centralized system to manage political power, following the centralized systems al-

ready in place to manage fiscal and spatial power.

10

Urban planning based on the need to make the transit system sustainable, through the

creation of:

Administration buildings and areas;

Residential areas for foreigners, and others for the local people;and

Education facilities, water and sanitation, and leisure facilities, which were built for

the military communities and local people that were part of or important for the

system.

Recent political and social change

Despite the decentralization processes which began in the second half of the 20th century in

many countries, their political and administrative heritage remains.

During the 20th and 21st century, Mediterranean cities have been exposed to a broad diversi-

ty of economic interest and trade, including tourism, cultural and educational exchanges, and

migration (Southern Mediterranean communities to Europe). Urbanization occurred much

faster in this region than in West Africa. Therefore, the two regions have similar backgrounds,

but also many differences.

The Arab Spring that has been spreading over the southern shore of the Mediterranean since

2011 is the manifestation of people’s discontent with the political systems in force. Social and

political identities are changing. Young people, unemployment, local power, identities and

freedom of expression are determining factors of the new situation observed in the Mediter-

ranean region as a whole.

In West Africa, however, mentalities are still linked to “political life” and “economic life” as

before: i.e. the ideal that the State is there for the people and the central government takes

decisions for the cities – “l’Etat providence” as it is called in French. It restricts people’s pro-

activity and limits local economic development initiatives. In contrast to France, the compe-

tences of the local authorities are very limited, often reduced to implementing administrative

procedures like birth certification or population statistics. As they have limited competence in

land administration, the spatial pattern of West African cities remains urban sprawl, with little

infrastructure and no transport, and “no reason to get compact”.

In this sense, the biggest gap between West Africa and North Africa is expression and exposure.

The historical background in the Mediterranean has shown that the culture of the start-up,

people seeking independence, better conditions and improvement where it is needed has

always been present, as proved by the Arab Spring.

Specifically, the Arab Spring allowed for a shift in power in Tunisia. This transition was viewed

with optimism, and is supported by a new constitution. It has also seen success in Morocco,

generating significant changes in social and political points of view and a new constitution for

the country. This has had an impact on the acceleration of the ‘Advanced Regionalization

11

Process’, bringing decisions on finances and the economy back to regional level.

In West Africa, on the other hand, the political and economic elites are an obstacle for sharing

power, wealth and land, which provides additional challenges to managing urbanization.

Current challenges

Countries in this region are facing a difficult recovery from the crisis implying a weak growth. It

results in a low employment rate. It particularly affects women employment which is very low

in international comparison but also the youth. Despite the important progress made in edu-

cation, with literacy rates and university degrees increasing constantly, qualified education is

not any longer a way out of poverty.

In the region, vulnerable employment is low when Social protection is developed. However,

informal jobs are increasing everywhere. It is the case for example in Northern Africa, where

52.2% of the total employment has been informal between 2010 and 2014. This situation

underlines the need to strengthen job creation, facilitate job formalization and to facilitate

access to social protection, especially in remote areas. Another perspective of evolution would

be to re-orientate trainings according to the needs of the market so the skilled workforce

The crisis around the Ebola epidemic is worsening the situation further, as it impacts trade,

connectivity and economic clusters between cities and countries. An economic impact assess-

ment by the World Bank group in October 2014 estimates losses for West Africa could reach

32 billion dollars by 2015. As of 1 December in Guinea, Liberia and the Ivory Coast alone –

countries that were experiencing a growth in GDP before – losses already amounted to more

than 3 billion U.S. dollars.

Looking ahead

Cities are at the heart of a dynamic that should encourage national decision makers to acceler-

ate decentralization. Cities in these regions are joining UCLG and working towards Habitat III,

which will on human liveability in cities. The following key elements remain important for both

regions to consider in tackling the challenges ahead:

Empowerment and accountability.

Education and raising awareness among local elected officials.

The willingness of national political leaders to see the regional and local elected au-

thorities as partners for sustainable development, including for economic strategies.

A global political positioning to express the potential of the cities and citizens to get

involved in the participatory process of decision-making and local economic develop-

ment.

National, regional and local employment strategies that redirect benefits to the re-

gions.

12

03 The challenges of urbanization in urban-rural

policies

Map: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospect; 2014 Revision

Figure 1: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospect; 2014 Revision

Bah Guera Chabi, Mayor of Ndali, reported that his city is growing at 3 to 4% per year, and he is mainly informing the Govern-ment on new communi-ties to be considered in the national plan.

Figure 2: United Nations, World Urbanization Prospect; 2014 Revision

13

“Megacities” are notable for their size and concentration of economic activities. In 1990 there

were 10 cities with more than 10 million inhabitants (figure 1), but these so-called “megacities”

were home to only 153 million people; representing less than 7% of the global urban popula-

tion. Today, the number of megacities has nearly tripled to 28, and the population they contain

has grown to 453 million, but this still only represents 12% of the world’s entire urban popula-

tion. Consequently, 61% of the world’s urban population lives in intermediary cities. Yet, the

growing gap between intermediary cities and large

metropolitan areas is evident.

In the Mediterranean and West Africa, intermediary cities

are growing exponentially. The 10 cities that participat-

ed in the event in Chefchaouen indicated annual

growth rates of 4 to 5%. However, some cities and

their leaders see themselves as only slowly becoming

“intermediary”. Despite having populations of up to

100,000, their ability to intermediate between the rural

and urban territories, for example through urban plan-

ning, service management and motivating economic growth,

is very limited.

West African and Mediterranean cities face similar challenges

Although not at the same scale and or within the same time frame, cities from West Africa and

the Mediterranean face the same problems: rapid growth, high youth population, unemploy-

ment, difficulties in controlling and managing urbanization, and limited fiscal resources and

decentralized powers. Many cities also have limited or no competences in terms of land use

planning.

In the Mediterranean, cities plan for growth, although

pressure from the private sector is high and they

often fall short in effective protection of the envi-

ronment or land. In Andalusia, for example, the

real estate boom took root in cities that lacked

sustainable planning. It has impacted natural

resources, in particular on the coast, but also

in suburban areas. The social impact was only

revealed recently, with citizens unable to pay

their mortgages and falling into poverty.

Urbanization was described as a problem by some

local leaders, who reported the loss of fertile and agri-

cultural land. Yet, it was also acknowledged that

Mayor of Odienne: “In my city,

I am only in charge of health

services. I mainly provide birth

and death certificates, which

allows me to observe urbani-

zation and densification, but

not to intervene or influence

it.”

The Mayor of Djerba reported a

sequence of plans that were

approved in the last decade, which

allow for the expansion of the city

with housing for 2,600 inhabitants,

as well as large touristic areas.

However, the employment created

in this construction boom falls short

for the local population.

14

urbanization is a consequence of migration; a reality in Africa’s development that must be

accepted. People move for new opportunities, to escape the poverty cycles of large rural pop-

ulations and receive services. In reality, it is almost impossible for local leaders not to wel-

come urbanization, since it comes with the creation of jobs, income shifts and economic

booms.

Recognizing the potential of the intermediary level

Intermediary Cities are centres of social, economic and cultural interaction and are considered

as the economic heart of larger rural areas. They provide access to infrastructures and basic

services such as health care and education to urban and rural areas . They act as (inter)

mediators and are places “in between” local and global markets. These cities are also points

of transition; a first stop for a population that is looking for jobs and better income.

Intermediary Cities also allow for close connection to communities and for efficient decision-

making thanks to their potential of proximity, unique to the intermediate city. It helps pro-

moting a more just planning process as the scope and scale is more easily encompassed than

in big cities. The most basic right of access to common space and

opportunities, as well as urban services - the right to know, un-

derstand and review the plan and/or city programme - is more

achievable at intermediary cities’ scales. The possibility for non-

motorized transport can be promoted and foreseen. Compact-

ness and proximity are spatial factors that have a positive im-

pact and will result in higher quality of live.

Intermediary cities are the interaction point between urban and

rural, and offer opportunities to expand access to services, such as health care and education,

for large numbers of people in an economically efficient manner. As the territory and the

social, economic and cultural fabric is known, leaders can build close connections with com-

munities and involve them in decision-making processes.

Intermediary cities key to balancing territorial, economic and social development

Promoting the role of intermediate-sized cities can help to address the problems of excessive

centralization of economic and administrative functions, while

also responding to the challenges of providing urban infrastruc-

ture and basic social services for the urban poor.

In order to do so, sustainable urbanization requires that

cities generate better income and employment opportuni-

ties; expand the necessary infrastructure for water and sani-

tation, energy, transportation, information and communica-

tions; ensure equal access to services; reduce poverty; and pre-

Nassar Fakihlanjri, Chamber of Commerce, Chefchaouen: Do we take into account the importance of planning for the economy?

Thomas Baguemzane, Mayor of Kindi: “Urbanization entails many problems: we destroy valuable land, the farmers capital.”

15

serve the natural assets within the city and surrounding areas. However, during the workshop,

local leaders and UCLG Africa identified the fact that there is a “lack of consciousness” in the

sense that intermediary cities in the region are not connecting with each other, centres and

peripheries. Furthermore, they lack resources and recognition from regional and national

levels.

The need for strategic planning and land use policies

As in other contexts, in Morocco, many cities have not yet met the demands of the existing

population in terms of services, but find themselves confronted with the needs of the new

population too. They have to be supported in addressing service demands upfront and con-

trolling urbanization, in particular for the urban poor. As identified by many participants from

West Africa and the southern shore of the Mediterranean, the urbanization process is not

always controlled. Local officials mentioned two side effects:

Urban expansion uses rural land and therefore destroys rural activities and jobs

Urbanization attracts the rural population without guaranteeing decent work but in-

creasing housing demands

History has shown that policies that aim to restrict rural-urban migration are ineffective at

forestalling city growth, and can even produce economic, social and environmental problems.

In recent years, a growing number of countries have been favouring other strategies for rural

and urban development, such as allocating land rights, managing land use, land redistribution,

creating regional development zones, and promoting economic diversification and competi-

tiveness in rural areas through the mobilization of investments and the improvement of rural

livelihoods.

These land policies can help to regulate and avoid the accelerated consumption of fertile and

valuable plots, and are thus able to control city growth in time if managed properly in conjunc-

tion with the demands of urbanization. However, two questions remain to be explored:

Can we change land value in view of the future need for

green and fertile areas that nurture the population and

environment?

How can environmental and culturally sensi-

tive land be protected?

Enhancing the potential of suburban areas as a

necessary focus for sustainable growth

The concept of suburban areas was introduced

during the session. A suburban area is the fringe

between central areas – usually combining traditionally

Mr Rachif Amerni from the urban

agency of the Tetouan Region

emphasized the need to control

urbanization and respond to the

high housing demand in interme-

diary cities (a total of 30,000

units for the next 3 years in

Tetouan and Chaouen alone).

16

urban areas of cities and towns with the more rural, open hinterland – that follow a logic of

agro-productivity. These are often areas in change and transformation, mostly from rural to

urban use, and are usually highly productive. Since they often have access to water, they may

be used as gardens and/or small-scale agriculture plots, and are increasingly foreseen for ur-

ban expansion, which requires urban services (water, streets, electricity, waste, transport,

waste water etc.). Suburban areas also increase land values, which, if urbanization is planned

well, can be used to finance growth and public infrastructure.

Abel Khalid, representative of the Municipal Agency, em-

phasized the need to address rural and environmental pro-

tection hand-in-hand with urban expansion, and to foster

inter-municipal cooperation. “Planning has been a task

limited to large cities, and the agency will support planning

in all municipalities. To better integrate rural activities, jobs

and work in the city, local leaders need to strengthen the

urban-rural dialogue. They need to position the intermedi-

ate city within its social, economic and cultural environ-

ment.”

Growth of urban corridors Urban sprawl and segregation of functions Loss of green and agricultural land

Photo: Habib Noui ©

“The urban world has not seen the rural world, not only financially. It is important for us to fos-ter networking, inter-municipal and intergov-ernmental cooperation.”

The loss of green and agricultural land is also visible in cities like Chefchaouen, which has a developed medi-na but poorly-defined land use in peripheral areas.

17

04 The case of Chefchaouen

General lines of action: public policies based on

dialogue between actors

The city of Chefchaouen developed several lines of

action, to which projects and public policies are in-

scribed. All lines of action are built upon a process of

participation, a dialogue that enables the adaptation

of projects and policies to meet the needs of the popu-

lation. In this sense, Chefchaouen takes advantage of its

scale, in terms of its size and thus proximity to citizens. The

different lines of action are:

Innovation based on culture: Innovation allows a synergy between local culture, public policies

and instruments. This is possible thanks to the creativity of the population and the confidence

of the local government in their human resources and civil society.

Participation in the decision-making process: By involving the population in decision-making

processes, Chefchaouen facilitates the integration of the needs and concerns of the popula-

tion within planning processes and local development projects. It can also be an instrument to

ensure social cohesion.

Rural-urban dialogue: The focus of the interaction is on intermediation as a strategy, with two

questions in mind:

How can the specific urban culture of Chefchaouen become a driver for a new rural

aesthetic, creating new jobs?

Can the rural areas help in leading the urban areas towards a more sustainable, green

development?

Photo: Habib Noui ©

Today we are in a global econ-

omy in which small scale econ-

omies can gain weight by gen-

erating a critical mass. This

small-scale economy is the

alternative to drawing a differ-

ent future for our planet.

18

South-South-North cooperation: The positive tendency of Chefchaouen to be active in the

areas of international cooperation (bilateral, multilateral and decentralized) has enabled the

City Council to lead some South-South (and triangular) cooperation initiatives with countries in

West Africa. Up to now, the focus of the cooperation projects was on good governance, how-

ever, in previous years, local economic development and the environmental and energy effi-

ciency sectors have become more interesting.

With respect to local economic development, new perspectives have been included in the

strategic lines of action of the City Council. Some of these are:

Cultural and alternative tourism: identification and signposting of routes, tourist infor-

mation office, agro-tourism strategies, value of the Mediterranean diet, etc.

Professional opportunities for the vulnerable young population: school workshop pro-

jects.

Support for female cooperatives and small producers.

SMEs: Centre for the revitalization of productive fabric, business incubators and col-

laboration.

Fair trade: Souk Beldi.

Intermediation to create value in the territory

Local development opportunities require human and economic value. This is accomplished by

exploring what already exists, while adding new perspectives for the actors present in the

territory, and new working and social cultures. The strategy to add value to the territory in the

city of Chefchaouen focuses on the interaction of urban and rural areas as components of an

integrated territory. The interaction between rural and urban areas can be found in different

spheres:

The ‘souk’ or rural market generates a link between rural and urban areas in an eco-

nomic, social and spatial sphere.

The rural residents that migrated into the city are an essential element of the periph-

eries. This area of the population is at the centre of the mediation between the rural

and urban space, at an aesthetic and economic level.

The transformation of rural to urban areas is also a crucial point of interaction.

Search for a new balance in the territory: concrete actions based on new criteria

Chefchaouen is a good example to be shared with the African Union of Architects, AUIA.

AUIA’s definition of sustainability is based on the Leipzig Charter (2007). The goal is to plan an

intelligent and balanced future for our territories by integrating five different

areas. In this way, the territory becomes the sum of values over a geographical/physical space

19

capable of generating wealth. The five criteria for development are: cultural, social, economic,

environmental and human. Chefchaouen is an advocate of this approach to creating a sustain-

able city, as outlined below:

Cultural criteria

Charte architecturale de la Ville de Chaouen: Chefchaouen has a strong architectural

and aesthetic culture recognized at a national and international level, and protected

by a legal document validated by the Ministry of Housing, the Mayor of Chefchaouen

and other public stakeholders. This public document indicates aesthetic and architec-

tural guidelines to preserve the city’s cultural value.

Value of the Mediterranean diet: The traditional gastronomy of the region responds to

existing agriculture and agro-activities, with a close relationship with the mountain

area. This project, developed within a cooperation framework, aims to give value to all

the products and suppliers of the food chain. To accomplish this goal, the project fo-

cuses on the traditional know-how of the population, aiming to save and preserve a

culture based on an agricultural tradition. At the same time, this generates economic

cohesion in the territory.

School workshop project: As a response to the urbanization of the rural areas of the

city and in order to generate new sources of income for the vulnerable population,

the school workshop project promotes training like gardening, forging, jewellery mak-

ing, traditional masonry, traditional painting on wood, etc., as well as self-employment

within agro-tourism in and around the city, the marketing of local products in the me-

dina, and other initiatives. This initiative counts on the support of several actors within

decentralized cooperation (FAMSI, Cordoba Provincial Council, etc.).

Social criteria

Communication through social networks and ICT initiatives: This was aimed to create a

sense of belonging in the community (Facebook, etc.).

Construction of new sports facilities: New sports facilities were created in the city,

especially for young people, in order to create spaces for leisure with a positive mean-

ing.

Empowering civil society: This aims to make new initiatives useful to the whole com-

munity. In 2011, the House of Associations (Casa de las Asociaciones) was created as a

place of work and training that the City Council made available to more than 100 asso-

ciations. It also hosts dialogue tables where associations can directly interact with the

local government to identify needs and shape the sectorial initiatives developed by

the City Council. In 2012, the City Council created the Municipal Group for Develop-

ment and Cooperation (Grupo Municipal para el Desarrollo y la Cooperación) to

20

facilitate consultation with associations active in the field of cooperation and to jointly

identify cooperation projects and exchange information about activities.

Communal Development Agency: The creation of such an agency enables the coordi-

nation of all the above-mentioned actions. It also creates a more direct channel of

communication between citizens and the local government, seeking to build a culture

of sustainable democratic participation.

Economic criteria

Creation of cooperatives and SMEs: Chefchaouen supports these initiatives in the areas

of crafts and services, among others, through the creation of an incubator and collab-

oration. This project is funded by the Barcelona Provincial Council and managed by

Chefchaouen and Vilafranca del Penedès.

Rural tourism: A few years ago the Agence de Promotion et développement des prov-

inces du Nord (APDN) developed an interesting and successful project. The initiative

worked on rural tourism in the region of Chefchaouen, linking the sea with the moun-

tains through trails along waterfalls, rivers, etc. using donkeys from the region. At the

same time, there was a project for rural cottages along the trails. The integration of

this with other projects encouraged the establishment of decent work, based on a

project of networks in the urban areas which attempted to structure the rural econo-

my from the city. Recently, the Granada Provincial Council developed a series of stud-

ies related to the promotion of agro-tourism, support for cooperatives on the periph-

eries of the city, the identification of gastronomic routes and guides of traditional

recipes of the region.

Valorization of tangible and non-tangible heritage: The attractiveness of the city is gen-

erated not only by the unique aesthetics of the city, but also by the local culture and

hospitality of the citizens.

Strategic management: Chefchaouen has been successful in strategic management to

create wealth through territorial opportunities, with several cross-cutting lines of work

and projects, as well as mobilizing the administration and citizens to work together.

Environmental criteria

Bouhachem park: In this successful initiative, the park is managed by Bouhachem local

authority, with the community living in the area responsible for the preservation of

the forest, as well as the control of all the activities carried out there. The park is locat-

ed on the outskirts of the city, which also means that the expansion of the city has

been stopped in this area, creating a way to seek a balance for the future, preserving

the land and its resources. The objectives of this initiative include the environmental

protection of the territory, landscape, religious and historical heritage, as well as the

21

promotion of the sustainable development of the population and an improvement in

their quality of life.

Human criteria

Relationship with citizens: A close relationship between the local government and the

citizens of Chefchaouen is an important tool for the implementation of public policies.

The City Council of Chefchaouen is seeking ways to strengthen this relationship in

order to facilitate a better understanding of needs, proposals and initiatives, as well as

to improve the implementation of economic, cultural and social development pro-

jects, within the framework of international and national cooperation. To accomplish

this, it is important to raise awareness and provide training for the population. The

scale of the city enables Chefchaouen to create alliances with the citizens and involve

them in city projects. Participation initiatives implemented so far have been successful

in both regional and national contexts.

Photo: Habib Noui ©

22

05 Rural-urban territories and sustainable

economic development

To create jobs and a sustainable economic environment, intermediary cities need to work

openly and inclusively with the neighbouring areas. The participants of the learning event took

the example of Chefchaouen, where a model for urban-rural policies for local economic devel-

opment has been developed.

Preserving cultural, agricultural and natural environment key to sustainable urban-

rural policies

Preserving the agricultural, cultural and natural heritage of the Chefchaouen region is an es-

sential element of the city and its strategy related to neighbouring areas. As noted by repre-

sentatives from academia, Chefchaouen land use system is mainly agricultural and agro-silvo-

pastoral. Despite the particular attention given to the preservation of the natural heritage in

Chefchaouens' strategy, the urbanisation process is creating challenges regarding land occupa-

tion. Current land occupation is considered as high, with density in the Rif mountains and high

pressure on resources. However, the rural environment of Chefchaouen is described as vi-

brant and dynamic. The main challenge has been to shift from a vertical model of intervention

to a more horizontal approach.

Representatives from NGOs have emphasized how crucial it has been for the city of

Chefchaouen to operate an “agro-paysage” (agro-landscape) and peripheral study in order to

build concrete proposals for the tourism sector and the agri-food sector, involving all stake-

holders on the ground. This has helped to strengthen the economic and social fabric, and to

develop an economy that is at the service of the social services.

The main outcomes of the urban-rural strategy put in place by Chefchaouen have been pre-

serving and rehabilitating the landscape and the know-how of the rural workers, launching

awareness campaigns to reinforce ownership, and emphasizing the regional dimension of the

territory. Participants noted that enlarging the spatial dimension of the territory has been key

to providing access between rural areas and urban areas.

Enabling structures to promote local economic development – The Municipal Agency

The participants noted that the creation of a Municipal Agency for Local Development repre-

sented one of the biggest assets for the dynamization of the city’s economic and social fabric.

These kinds of structures create spaces where actors can meet and develop together projects

and new synergies. The Municipal Agency for Local Development allows the creation of strate-

gic plans and instruments of implementation that are accompanying the current development

of Chefchaouen. It is the first public agency of this kind to be developed in Morocco, and is

supported by FAMSI. Its geographical powers also enable links between Chefchaouen and

Tetouan.

23

The ‘souk’ (rural market) is a link between rural and urban territories from an economic,

social and spatial point of view. The market takes place every Monday and Thursday close

to the medina and is attended by wholesalers, small producers, farmers, cooperatives and

anyone else with an interest in the economic and social scene. The market is the space

where small scale activities take place that generate social and economic dynamics and

strengthen social cohesion, which is fundamental for the territory. The products in the mar-

ket come from rural areas close to the city (small producers, especially women) and agricul-

tural rural areas in other regions (wholesalers). The Chaouen market is particularly clean

and tidy, and mainly managed by women.

Photo: Pierre Martinot-Lagarde

Photos: Pierre Martinot-Lagarde

24

In continuity with the Municipal Agency for Local Development, a Municipal Group for Devel-

opment and Cooperation ensures the territorial marketing of the city and its rural areas.

To better archive the region’s data and in order to plan ahead, it has launched a database to

catalyze resources and best practices, notably of small- and medium-sized businesses.

The Mediterranean diet

The Mediterranean diet refers to a lifestyle. It is a set of skills, knowledge, practices and

traditions that revolve around obtaining food from the landscape and bringing it to the

table, including processing, preservation, preparation and consumption. It is also a valuable

piece of cultural heritage that embraces the Mediterranean population as a whole, combin-

ing landscapes, crops, cultivation techniques, markets, culinary spaces and gestures, fla-

vours and fragrances, colours, social gatherings and celebrations, as well as innovation and

traditions.

Photo: Habib Noui © Photo: Habib Noui ©

Photo: Habib Noui © Photo: Pierre Martinot-Lagarde ©

25

The Agency and the Municipal Group have also set up a mechanism in aid local financing. In

this process, a partnership between the municipality and an association of entrepreneurs, as

the core interlocutor, has been crucial.

The work of the Municipal Agency has been possible because of previous strategic planning

within the region. Documentation on the urbanism of the region, urban management and

maps, as well as a “plan de zonage” (zoning plan), were collected to build on urban-rural stra-

tegic planning. Solidifying infrastructure was a core objective of the Agency, as part of the

medina’s planning and renovation strategies.

The founders and workers of the Agency showed how the concept of the Agency is a funda-

mental tool, both in the execution of projects and in the advisory process of urban-rural devel-

opment. It allows for collective thinking, a detailed assessment of projects and their impacts,

and a network approach that enables opportunities for development. It also allows for syner-

gies between municipalities, rural areas and cities. Participants recommended that the system

of such Agencies should be harmonized, particularly in its legal framework, and its political

positioning.

Overall, the Municipal Agency for Local Development is a good example of how to preserve

traditional and rural work in an urban context, enabling the safeguarding of artisanal trade but

with a lever effect on growth and job creation.

Enhancing local economic development through urban-rural dialogue and fiscal de-

centralization

From West Africa to the southern shore of

the Mediterranean, participants acknowl-

edged that progress towards decentraliza-

tion, including through budget decen-

tralization, involvement of local eco-

nomic and social actors in social dia-

logue are essential elements to fos-

ter local economic development.

Local budgets only count for 3% of

national budgets and explain the

weakness of local economic develop-

ment in many countries.

In West Africa, for example, public invest-

ment in local authorities only counts for 5%

of the overall national budget. This shows how

This was also outlined by the President of

the Local Economic Development Working

Group, Paco Toajas, citing the experience of

Spain, which has been decentralized over

the last 30 years: “At the end of the 1980s,

local governments became co-responsible

for local development, and municipalities

were allowed to define their strategies.

Later on, the municipalities were integrated

into EU structural funding. Finally, solidarity

funds were created that allow municipalities

to finance international cooperation.”

26

the distribution of public resources is one of the main hindrances to local economic develop-

ment. Cities and towns are increasingly removed from their historical contexts; they have to

become more open, “useful and accountable administrations”.

The following recommendations to deal with this were noted during the event:

A first strategic recommendation shared by delegates was that social dialogue, includ-

ing business leaders and organizations as well as trade unions and civil society repre-

sentatives are key to develop a comprehensive view and plan for local development.

Building an inclusive dialogue around territories, including entrepreneurs, local leaders

and other representatives of civil society is the first challenge ahead.

The second recommendation shared was the importance of local actors to make socio

-economic data and information available. In Africa, West Africa in particular, this data

is only available on a national level and the sub-national level is not dealt with. The

example of the Ecoloc tool was quoted. This has enabled the development of a dash-

board to facilitate local economic decisions and improve the relevance of local eco-

nomic development strategies. Statistics should reflect the current situations and po-

tentialities of each territory : key indicators include employment, unemployment,

proportion of the women in the workforce, education, major sectors of activities.

A third tool was emphasized by intermediary city leaders: intercommunality. Joint

strategies between cities and municipalities, and between urban and rural communi-

ties, can be relevant tools to set up local economic development strategies. The pri-

mary sector (agriculture) remains the main wealth of intermediary cities in Africa.

Therefore, urban-rural interconnections are at the centre of local economic develop-

ment and strengthen it. This urban-rural space allows economic exchanges to develop,

since local economic development begins with the intermediary city a central pole and

expands to the surrounding areas.

Finally, local economic development requires resource mobilization and availability of

investment. Considering the fiscal weakness of local authorities, local economic devel-

opment needs to be reinforced through a higher tax rate; not necessarily by higher

taxation, but by enlarging the number of contributors.

Overall, local economic development strategies should favour a common vision between the

urban and rural communities and allow the strengthening of urban-rural dialogue to better

serve citizens with social services and to develop decent work.

Intermediary cities need to work more in clusters and in solidarity to become systems that

allow production and consumption to be considered local opportunities. This will enable the

creation of an alternative model to the agglomeration of capital, people and problems that

affect metropolitan areas.

27

06 Initiatives and solutions for decent work

Employment, social cohesion and improving women’s autonomy common challenges

for West African and Mediterranean countries

The International Labour Organization, using available national data, has shown that the

southern Mediterranean countries remain hit by high unemployment, especially among young

people and women. Long-term unemployment greatly affects quality of life, and data shows

that there is a correlation between the level of qualification and the unemployment rate. Un-

employment in qualified young people is dramatic: 47% of young people with a degree in so-

cial science are unemployed; and Libya and Egypt have the youth unemployment levels of

Greece and Spain. Participants also confirmed the increase in qualified young people without

jobs. For example, Burkina Faso has a youth population of 80%, of whom only 20% are in for-

mal employment. This highlights that the paradigm of education as a guarantee for jobs is not

working as expected. The informal employment rate is also correlated with the level of social

protection, and it is increasing on a global basis for women and young people.

DECENT WORK

Work is central to people's well-being. In addition to providing income, work can pave the way

for broader social and economic advancement, strengthening individuals, their families and

communities. Such progress, however, hinges on work that is decent. The ILO has developed

an agenda for the community of work providing support through integrated Decent Work

Country Programmes developed in coordination with its constituents. Putting the Decent

Work Agenda into practice is achieved through the implementation of the ILO's four strategic

objectives, with gender equality as a crosscutting objective:

Creating Jobs – an economy that generates opportunities for investment, entrepre-

neurship, skills development, job creation and sustainable livelihoods.

Guaranteeing rights at work – to obtain recognition and respect for the rights of work-

ers. All workers, and in particular disadvantaged or poor workers, need representa-

tion, participation, and laws that work for their interests.

Extending social protection – to promote both inclusion and productivity by ensuring

that women and men enjoy working conditions that are safe, allow adequate free time

and rest, take into account family and social values, provide for adequate compensa-

tion in case of lost or reduced income and permit access to adequate healthcare.

Promoting social dialogue – Involving strong and independent workers’ and employ-

ers' organizations is central to increasing productivity, avoiding disputes at work, and

building cohesive societies.

28

ILO studies revealed, however, that the most effective way to increase GDP would be to re-

duce unemployment among women, which is often equivalent to formalizing their work. If

unemployed women worked, the GDP in the region would increase by 20%; however, if young

people were employed it would only increase by 2%. Some possibilities were outlined:

Create employment

Formalize employment

Provide guidance for young people

Improve social dialogue

Improve the juridical social framework

Leaders and actors from West Africa and Spain made clear that the issue of improving wom-

en’s autonomy is also central to tackling the challenges of economic and social development

in these countries.

A new local economic development approach needed

Today, 50% of the revenue of intermediary cities comes from the commerce of proximity.

However, given the constraints that the intermediary level faces in terms of resources and

political powers, this model does not allow for long-term sustainability. Participants also made

clear that supporting national plans on employment can have very different impacts at the

local level.

This can be seen in the case of Andalusia, Spain, where youth unemployment has hit 50%. A

lack of coordination between the social communities and the administration appears to be

part of the challenge, and participants noted that the Spanish national government is also

limiting the possibilities for local economies to develop.

Decentralization is considered a first step for taking on these challenges. Local and regional

public policies have helped to influence capacity-building and the development of new struc-

tures based on the territories’ assets, and the number of projects is growing every day. This

shows that local economic development and urban policies are the only way to find solutions

to sustainability. It also shows that the territory is not an isolated, independent element, but a

space of interactions.

In line with this concept, participants showcased the lever effect of decent work in rural areas.

In Senegal for example, one thousand jobs created in the agricultural sector implies the crea-

tion of three thousand more, considering the linked services.

Different ways forward to build a sustainable local economic model were explored by partici-

pants, including adopting the following general guidelines and technical and structural tools

shared by participants.

29

Union of apiculture cooperatives "RIF Chefchaouen"

112 members (14 cooperatives)

The union of apiculture cooperatives “RIF Chefchaouen” is financed by AECID (Spanish

Agency for International Development Cooperation) with support from the IPADE Founda-

tion and the Association of Local Development of Chefchaouen (ADL), the National Human

Development Initiative and the Provincial Delegation of Agriculture.

e-mail: info@mieldesjbala.com

www.mieldesjbala.com

30

General guidelines for local economic development

Expand sources of growth and guarantee employment at an affordable rate.

Facilitate the formalization of employment and explore ways to include the informal

sector.

Improve social dialogue with all partners (civil society, trade unions, entrepreneurs,

development actors).

Orientate training towards the need(s) of the market and reform professional training.

Reinforce the capacity for analysis and prospecting of the labour market.

Foster the contributions of women to the implementation of innovative projects or

cooperatives, which enable women to access decent jobs and acquire more economic

and social autonomy.

Spatialize the information of local activities and actors.

Allow for external strategies of local activities and the regional or international projec-

tion of territories.

Enable the broad inclusion of entrepreneurs and social partners in the definition pro-

cess.

Technical and structural tools to strengthen local economic development

Decentralized cooperation: Shared initiatives from Chefchaouen, Villafranca de Penedès, the

Ivory Coast and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region. Its proximity and Mediterranean iden-

tity, as well as its southern roots, have made the city of Chefchaouen and its dynamics a cen-

tre of exchange. This created great opportunities for the City Council to benefit from several

decentralized cooperation initiatives with European partners concentrated in the Mediterra-

nean area, either bilaterally or through networks of local communities. All of them, though

small in financial terms, are considered as strategic opportunities and are aligned with the

development strategy of the city.

Cooperatives: From Spain to Morocco, cooperatives show the complementarity of the private

sector and associations/civil society. They need to be supported by the public authorities. The

organization CEPES Andalusia has demonstrated the importance of the cooperative as an al-

ternative form of business. It also shows that entrepreneurship is not only based on firms with

capital. The importance gained by cooperatives and their potential shows that connections

with the international movement of cooperatives worldwide could be explored. Harmoniza-

tion among countries in the Maghreb could also be explored. A more flexible and adequate

local fiscality for cooperatives has also been identified as a strong asset, as experienced by

Andalusia.

31

Cooperative AMLAY

11 members

AMLAY is financed by the AE-

CID (Spanish Agency for Inter-

national Development Cooper-

ation) with the support of the

IPADE Foundation and the

ATED Association. The site-visits are a fruitful space for the participants to under-stand the projects and initiatives. first hand .

Cooperatives in Morocco, a way to promote decent work

Cooperatives are important in improving the living and working conditions of women and

men globally as well as making essential infrastructure and services available even in areas

neglected by the state and investor-driven enterprises. Cooperatives have a proven record of

creating and sustaining employment – they provide over 250 million jobs today; they ad-

vance the ILO’s Global Employment Agenda and contribute to promoting decent work.

32

Labelling: As shown by CEPES Andalusia, and distribution and exportation agreements for olive

oil, the notion of the Mediterranean diet aims to increase the value of traditional agricultural

products. Since agro-production is a key factor in Morocco’s economy, it is important to pro-

mote quality, as well as higher prices for these products.

Professional training and schools for entrepreneurs: A training school for entrepreneurs has

been set up in Andalusia, Spain, with outstanding results. In a region hit by 50% youth unem-

ployment, it is a concrete example that professional training is indispensable for the entrepre-

neurs. 50 firms were created following the launch of the training school, thanks to a strong

political will, bringing added value to the region’s economic and social fabric.

Creation of freelance jobs: In Jaen, Andalusia, Spain, 300 people took on self-employed work,

which has led to the creation of new companies, strengthening the economic and social fabric

in the region and fostering growth.

Micro-credit: Initiative of Mauritania. However, this is only viable on a technical basis and must

be accompanied by capacity-building.

Recuperation of dry land and access to land value: As shared by Niger and FMDV.

Technical and structural support for local authorities: Saint Louis, Senegal, has developed tech-

nical support for local authorities to aid local economic development, thanks to the Regional

Development Agency, which is similar to the Northern Morocco Development Agency. It ac-

companies the local elected officials in infrastructure development, and allows for long-term

strategies for the economic development of territories, especially on tourism and services.

New planning policy papers also help local officials to better foresee and link urban strategies

with rural areas.

As a result of the event a mentoring activity was

conducted. The city of Chefchaouen supported by

UCLG, visited the city of N’Dali in Benin to share

knowledge and assist the city of N’Dali in the develop-

ment of a Local Economic Development Strategy for the

region of Borgou. This was the first step for durable collabo-

ration and cooperation between Chefchaouen and its Local De-

velopment Agency and the city of N’Dali, whose mission fits into the same dynamics.

Concrete steps for

implementation and

follow-up

33

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/01/timbuktu/stirton-photography#/04-shrinking-timbuktu-714.jpg 07 South-South and triangular cooperation and

recommendations

Participants unanimously acknowledged the advantages and assets of decentralized coopera-

tion, and more specifically of South-South and Triangular cooperation. It allows for adapting

knowledge in the South and can provide benefits in terms of time and money. It also allows

for the development of innovative, replicable and sustainable solutions as well as the sharing

of such initiatives among partners.

A way forward for the joint agenda on intermediary cities and local economic

development

A plea was made for a renewal and reshaping of North-South

dialogue,

implying equal cooperation between countries, and munici-

palities. There is a clear lack of resources in the South and

the presence of developed countries is therefore essential.

Around the world, and especially in Africa and Mediterrane-

an countries, we have seen North-South cooperation pro-

jects being fertilized in the South, thanks to other contributions

from the South and the support of the North. In many cases, local

authorities are facing challenges with their national governments to make

decentralized cooperation stronger and more powerful, with adequate resources.

Leaders and actors in Chefchaouen reaffirmed how vital it is to combine and join the strate-

gies on intermediary cities and local economic development.

FAMSI reiterated that the Andalusian model for cooperation, developed from the 1980s on-

wards, was strengthening the power of local governments to define local economic strategies,

within the framework of decentralized cooperation. It includes political and financial support,

enabled by Structural Funds.

Participants affirmed that networks are essential for cities. New networks should enable the

definition of framework policy documents and regional visions on local economic develop-

ment. It should also take into account differences in realities in terms of decentralization, the

recognition of the territory and its relations with civil society. It should entail a database that

will enable the sharing of best practices, starting with three main poles: Andalusia, Morocco

and the Caribbean region. An open consultation and the inclusion of the African network of

1,200 experts that should help to organize the African contribution to the two Working

Groups is also important. Up until now, development has been seen from a national view-

The mayor of Sousse, Mo-

hamed Mokni presented

his city as a source of

knowledge for south-

south cooperation

34

point, including in the tools used. The approach needs to become local. Economic develop-

ment is actually the aggregation of the numerous local economic developments.

Local economic development should not be divided into silos, as this favours dumping, includ-

ing fiscal and environmental dumping. Starting within territories, it is essential to relocate

development and reduce the ecological footprint, preserve identities and enrich the produc-

tion system. A strategic alliance between the ILO and UCLG has been formed to develop this

agenda in the long run.

Recommendations from participants

The workshop ended with group work on concrete recommendations, which can be summa-

rized as follows:

School workshops and professional training: to allow the safeguarding and develop-

ment of artisanal jobs.

Promoting the Mediterranean diet: participants from Niger and Benin saw a series of

opportunities to apply these concepts in their territories.

Urbanism codification and municipal development plans: knowledge sharing is im-

portant for those cities wishing to increase their competences with regard to planning.

Study trips: to improve knowledge of civil and entrepreneurial societies.

Community farms: to enable the accompanying of projects throughout the value chain

across the whole territory.

Territorial marketing.

Creating a network of business incubators by sector.

Dialogue spaces with funding organizations.

Peer learning: the Tunisian cities of Sousse and Djerba offered to share their experi-

ences in management and planning to West African cities.

The academic network of intermediary cities is also a

very interesting opportunity to promote South-South

cooperation based on an equitable exchange, with the

participation of the North. Indeed, it is an alternative

opportunity for the establishment of a new dialogue

between North and South based on equity, mutual learn-

ing and a “win-win” exchange.

As highlighted by Firdaous

Oussidhoum CIMES expert,

cooperation should gener-

ate knowledge for all

35

08 Conclusions, next steps and final declaration Proactive group work enabled participants to provide suggestions for practical follow up and

to conclude the event with a roadmap.

Round table outcomes

Participants agreed that the exchange created new opportunities to learn and to challenge

existing mindsets and assumptions about urban-rural policies and local economic develop-

ment in intermediary cities. The round table discussions gave practitioners and local leaders

the space to share and exchange experiences and opinions, and engage in debates. Focusing

on the question of how to develop public policies, and taking into consideration the specific

context of intermediary cities, these discussions also enabled a closer look at intermediary

cities in North and West Africa. In this context, the following points were highlighted as the

key take-aways from the meeting.

The importance of setting local development goals within a framework of autonomous

local management

Decentralization in North and West Africa has been a fragile process. Local authorities only

receive between 3% and 8% of public expenditure, which leads to a position of weakness and

vulnerability, and increases the gap between capacities and competences. Participants agreed

that local economic development was essential to fostering solutions to these issues, includ-

ing:

The valorization of local resources as potential capital.

The need for a constant exchange of experiences on financing.

The importance of a solidarity-based economy in local development.

The organization of community farms and cooperatives according to local resources.

(This initiative can be linked with cross-cutting projects to ensure both that the entire

territory and the value chain is covered in territorial production).

A thematic line involving basic public services and infrastructure projects was proposed within

the debates, and the following topics were emphasized as particularly interesting:

Sanitation and waste management

Transport management

Water resources and water management

Public lighting

Environmental management towards sustainability

36

The importance of the legal dimension

Some key legal elements to foster the development of urban-rural polices were discussed by

the participants:

Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) allow the integration of public and private stakehold-

ers, capital and resources in the interest of development. It is a possible alternative in

the framework of triangular cooperation, as well as within the framework of local

institutions, schools, etc.

The Municipal Agency for Development was raised as a strategy to manage develop-

ment at the local scale.

Tools to implement synergies and the initiatives of civil society and local governments.

The human dimension: capacity building through intermediary cities

The capacity-building component was valued as a strategic effort for intermediary cities. A

vast majority of the participants highlighted the importance of projects and policies that work

towards capacity building, especially for vulnerable social groups. However, the capacity build-

ing of elected officials and practitioners should also be taken into consideration, due to the

fact that in many cases local governments remain weak as a result of a lack of professional

competency. The nature of the targeted activities were, among others:

A training concept based on the resources of the territory. An example of further edu-

cation based on local resources is the school workshop project implemented in

Chefchaouen.

Strengthening capacities and human resources to give continuity to actions, projects

and policies.

A database of experiences and best practices of local economic development, as well

as one for possible donors.

Strengthening networking between municipalities for the identification of projects and

advocacy.

Municipal investment plans.

Inclusiveness: young people and women as potential social groups to be supported

through public policies.

The economic insertion of women and young people

Is vital to promote and increase the employability of young people. To do so, urban-rural per-

spectives are needed in order to create new employment opportunities that take advantage

of the existing link between urban and rural areas. The school workshop project carried out by

Chefchaouen was positively assessed by the participants as a training approach that takes into

consideration the full potential of the urban-rural region. The educational alternatives devel-

oped in Niger and Benin also constitute examples of best practices for the way forward on this

37

particular topic. Another important issue underlined in the debate was the promotion of equi-

ty and equal opportunities through initiatives on training and improving employment opportu-

nities.

Spatial planning aspects

Chefchaouen, Djerba and Sfax presented experiences and examples that were particularly

interesting for cities in West Africa. The following topics were identified as priorities for possi-

ble cooperation projects:

Support for spatial planning through the establishment of a Town Planning Code,

Global Development Plan and Detailed Development Plan (experiences presented by

Djerba and led by the Association of Architects of Tunisia).

Heritage rehabilitation and social cohesion.

Plans to preserve and enhance intangible cultural heritage (crafts, traditional product

production, etc.).

Final declaration

At the end of these exchanges the participants:

Expressed their acknowledgement and their appreciation for the South-South and Triangular

exchanges during the three days of seminars.

The workshop made evident the crucial role of local governments for the implementation of a

local development strategy that takes into account the needs for decent work. These strategies

are based on the particular situation of intermediary cities, particularly the synergies between

rural and urban spaces, their position as intermediaries, their capacity to create links between

cities and the national, regional and global economic environments regarding people, resources

and goods.

The following observations were highlighted:

Population growth requires a commitment from all local actors for a local economic development

that contributes to increasing social cohesion, reducing inequalities, providing access to decent

work and contributing to poverty eradication.

Intermediary cities have a central role in redefining the relations between the rural and urban

spaces of the same territory. A positive outlook on migration is required, because it is a condition

for the strengthening of the economic dynamism and ensuring a balanced development of urban

spaces.

Urban and territorial strategic planning in the framework of intermediary cities needs to consider

the relationship between rural and urban spaces, and involve all actors of development, particu-

larly businesses, social partners, inhabitants and civil society. It should enable the creation of

short-, medium- and long-term strategies. South-South and Triangular cooperation is a useful

instrument for its implementation.

38

Youth employment is perceived as a decisive challenge. Population growth in cities and rural

areas is a challenge for education, professional training and the development of a competitive

economic environment.

Women’s contributions to development are essential. Local governments can accompany the

implementation of innovative projects, of cooperatives, which allow women to access decent

jobs and acquire more economic and social autonomy.

In many countries, decentralization is an ongoing project. Legal clarification and simplifications

are necessary. Fiscal decentralization needs to be expanded and local governments need stable

and guaranteed budgets.

Recognized the importance of South-South and Triangular cooperation, which constitutes an

exchange among equals, the encouragement of good practices and the identification of innova-

tive projects.

Participants committed themselves to enrol and participate in intermediary cities and local de-

velopment networks, to contribute to their development and to strengthen the exchange of

good practices and capacities. They wished to be informed of the results of the meeting in Pasto

(Colombia), which will be centred on the relations between rural and urban areas, particularly

food markets, the interdependence of labour markets, and urban strategies. They support the

organization of a new meeting in West Africa, with the support of UCLG and UCLG Africa, which

could focus on local economic development. Through this network, and in connection with Ecol-

oc, the tools for analyzing human, economic and social situations shall be shared.

Took note of the importance of the ongoing discussions for the definition of a global agenda for

development, poverty reduction and access to decent work. The definition of objectives in rela-

tion to Post-2015, the Forum for Local Economic Development in Turin (2014) and Habitat III are

occasions to promote the localization of development within the context of South-South and

Triangular cooperation. Participants committed to provide inputs, as well as to support the pro-

motion of local economic development and decent work in their countries and regional organi-

zations.

Participants invited UGLG, the ILO, UCLG Africa, FAMSI, the network of intermediary cities and

the LED Working Group, and other partners involved in the same issues, to strengthen coopera-

tion and exchange among themselves, and to elaborate common positions on local economic

development and decent work. A first stage could be a seminar in preparation for the preparato-

ry conference of Habitat III in Nairobi and the LED Forum in Turin.

The exchanges were based on the work of two working groups organized by UCLG, one on inter-

mediary cities and the other on local economic development. These exchanges were made possi-

ble thanks to the hosting and efficient organization of the Chefchaouen municipality, UCLG and

its partners, UCLG Africa, FAMSI and the ILO, in the framework of its strategy for the promotion

of South-South and Triangular cooperation and decent work. Reference was also made to the

exchanges between Maputo and Durban, which recognized the importance of the informal econ-

omy in connection to urban policies.

39

CREDITS

Event organization and methodology design:

Chefchaouen, UCLG, UCLG Africa, ILO, FAMSI

Coordination

Sara Hoeflich de Duque, Programme Manager, UCLG

Editing and texts

Eva Gallardo, Chefchaouen

Firdaous Oussidhoum, expert on Intermediary Cities

Lina Gast, UCLG

Tara Katti, UCLG

Jean-Baptiste Buffet, UCLG

Layout

Lina Gast, UCLG

Photographs

Habib Noui

Chefchaouen City Council

Links and further information: www.uclg.org

Contributors

Mohamed Sefiani, Mayor of Chefchaouen

Prof. Josep Maria Llop, Catedra CIMES-UNESCO

Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General UCLG Africa

Pierre Martinot, ILO

Felipe Llamas, FAMSI

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